bilateral relations
Indo-Pacific: UK sees Bangladesh as "critical stability provider"
The United Kingdom (UK) has recognized Bangladesh’s role as a "critical stability provider" in the region, and its particular relevance in the context of the UK’s integrated foreign, trade, development and security policy review with focus on the Indo-Pacific.
Bangladesh and the UK agreed to remain engaged on a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis, together with relevant regional and international actors.
The two countries discussed the bilateral, regional and global issues at the 4th Strategic Dialogue held in London on Thursday.
Both delegations exchanged views on the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
Read: FM reiterates call for removing Bangladesh from UK's Covid red list
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen led the Bangladesh delegation at the talks while his British counterpart Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) led the UK side.
The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary urged the UK to review the current travel restrictions on Bangladesh as a matter of priority, considering the steady improvement in the Covid-19 infection and vaccination rates.
The two sides agreed to further scale up cooperation in genome sequencing of the testing samples through relevant Bangladesh agencies.
Bangladesh and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their historic and multidimensional ties at the 4th Strategic Dialogue.
“Bangladesh at 50 and the UK post-Brexit have the opportunity to further energize our bilateral relations in line with our efforts at resetting our foreign policy pursuit towards deeper strategic engagement with key international partners”, said Masud Momen.
Barton underlined the importance of the two democracies engaging with each other on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues.
The two sides recalled the founding of the bilateral relations during Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s visit to London on January 8, 1972 on his way to the newly independent Bangladesh, when he was received by the British Prime Minister Edward Heath.
BD-Japan relations: Ito’s 5 challenges in keynote drive interest in event premiere
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito provides the centrepiece, as experts from Bangladesh and Japan are brought together (in the safety of cyberspace) by Cosmos Foundation, for a dialogue on the bilateral relations between two important partners in growth, development, and increasingly trade. The keynote address at the online symposium titled “Bangladesh-Japan Relations: Prognosis for the Future”, will be delivered by Ambassador Ito, who has now served in the post for slightly more than 18 months.
Read: Japan to send 2.9 mn doses of AstraZeneca vaccine for Bangladesh: Envoy
A key thrust of the ambassador’s address will be the identification of 5 challenges, that he believes must be overcome in order for the bilateral relationship to fully thrive in the years ahead.
Chairman of Cosmos Foundation Enayetullah Khan will set the stage in his opening remarks for a richly engaging discussion, that premieres tonight (Sunday, 8PM BST) on the Foundation’s Facebook page.
As is by now customary for the Foundation’s flagship events, chairing the proceedings will be the renowned scholar-diplomat, as well as adviser on foreign affairs to the last caretaker government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury.
Read: ‘Thanks Japan’, Dr Momen says over vaccine supply It would be the latest instalment in the Foundation’s ‘Ambassador Lecture Series,’ where a foreign emissary based in Dhaka is invited to deliver a keynote, before engaging at length with a high-level panel of experts, who are chosen for their particular knowledge and experience relating to the day’s topic. For the edition premiering tonight – and thereafter available for viewing at any time - the expert panel comprises Md Abul Kalam Azad, Special Envoy, Climate Vulnerable Forum; Hayakawa Yuho, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh Office; Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, former Governor, Bangladesh Bank; Prof Masaaki Ohashi, Professor, University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo; Manzurul Huq, columnist, writer and academic; Prof Takahara Akio, Dean, Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo and Ambassador (Retd) Tariq A Karim, Honorary Advisor Emeritus, Cosmos Foundation.
Read:Cosmos Dialogue on Dhaka-Washington ties premieres Saturday on Facebook Cosmos Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Bangladeshi conglomerate the Cosmos Group. Registered to operate under a trust structure since 2016, it is committed to bringing together the finest minds from home and abroad onto common fora - such that they elicit strategic insights and policy solutions for the most pressing issues facing Bangladesh, as it charts its course towards a future that is ever-brighter.
Don’t forget to catch the premiere via Facebook of the entire discussion tonight, at 8pm BST. Thereafter it will be available for viewing entirely at your discretion and convenience, from Cosmos Foundation’s Facebook page, as well as the www.facebook.com/unbnewsroom page. You can also catch up on previous editions.
Dhaka, Seoul take stock of bilateral relations; 3 sectors identified for more focused cooperation
Speakers at a webinar on Wednesday underscored the need to foster more collaborative engagements in the thriving sectors, particularly ICT, pharmaceuticals and biotech, with an aim to further deepen and strengthen the existing partnership between Bangladesh and South Korea.
The virtual meeting was participated by the dignitaries and representatives of the government and other trade bodies of both Bangladesh and South Korea and took stock of the existing bilateral economic cooperation.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Private Investment and Industry Salman F Rahman, who attended as the chief guest, reflected on the achievements and potentials of Bangladesh in the sectors and provided guidance, recommendations and future directions of engagements in promoting cooperation in Pharmaceutical, Bio Industry and the ICT sector.
The webinar titled ‘Bangladesh and ROK: Trade and Investment Opportunities’, was organized by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul and moderated by Bangladesh Ambassador to South Korea Abida Islam
Also read: Dhaka and Seoul discuss cooperation between Met Offices
It discussed and exchanged views on the existing trends of bilateral cooperation especially in pharmaceuticals, biotech, and the ICT sector, as well as charting future course of action in expanding cooperation in these thriving sectors.
Also read: Webinar highlights stronger Dhaka-Seoul trade ties, FTA
Dr. Mostafa Abid Khan, former member, Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, was the keynote speaker.
Hasina, Modi inaugurate Maitri Setu
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi Tuesday inaugurated 'Maitri Setu', a bridge built over the Feni river flowing between the two countries.
No crime, no border killing: Jaishankar
Bangladesh and India on Thursday highlighted their shared objective with an approach “no crime, no death” to end killings along the border, noting that every death is regrettable.
Maldives Foreign Minister due Monday
Foreign Minister of the Maldives Abdulla Shahid is scheduled to pay an official visit to Bangladesh on February 8-11 at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Dhaka-Delhi FOC on Jan 29
Bangladesh and India will hold the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two countries on January 29 to have comprehensive discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations.
Turkey sees ‘enormous opportunities’ under PPPA in Bangladesh
Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan on Thursday recognised the enormous opportunities that Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) offers to partners and to move bilateral relations forward.
Bangladesh wants to join India-Myanmar-Thailand road belt: FM
Considering its strategic interests, Bangladesh wants to join a road belt with India, Myanmar and Thailand as the two countries set a “very positive tone” during the virtual Summit to broaden the bilateral relations and explore regional connectivity in an effective way.
India gifts 20 military horses, 10 mine detection dogs to Bangladesh
The Indian Army has gifted 20 trained military horses and 10 mine detection dogs to Bangladesh Army.